Philip Francis Shacklock

He enlisted in April 1915, serving in Ireland during the Easter Rising. He died of wounds on 10 October from wounds suffered on 28 September 1917 during the Third Battle of Ypres (Passchendaele); died on the first anniversary of his arrival in France. He is buried in Etaples Cemetery. For further information see report from the 'Mansfield Reporter', 19 October 1917, in 'Extra information'.

Personal inscription on CWGC headstone, 'Faithful unto death' Mansfield Reporter, 19 October 1917: ‘We regret to announce the death from wounds received in action on September 28th of Sergeant Philip Frank Shacklock, son of Mr and Mrs GA Shacklock, Woodhouse-road, Mansfield, which occurred on the 10th inst., at a hospital in France. He was in the Sherwood Foresters, and had been out on the Western front since February, and in that time saw a lot of heavy fighting. He was educated at the Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School and was reading for the law, being articled to Mr SH Shacklock, of Sutton-in-Ashfield, his uncle. He trained with the OTC connected with the Nottingham University College, but afterwards joined the infantry as a private. He went to Watford with the Sherwood Foresters. This was in January 1916. Three months later he was one of those who were rushed over to Ireland to suppress the Sinn Fein movement, and was in the thick of the fighting in Dublin streets. After the trouble had been settled, he remained with the Sherwoods in Ireland for some time, and became an instructor in musketry. From there he passed with his regiment to Salisbury Plain and next to France. That was in February of the present year. Several times he was invited to pass out to a cadet battalion and accept a commission but he felt he was doing good work as a sergeant, and refused. However, he was eventually prevailed upon to take that course, and he would in all probability have left for England the next day had he not been wounded. It appears that he was due on leave previously, but had to take one more turn in the trenches before he could visit home. The four days had beed (sic) done, the trenches left behind, and Sergt. Shacklock and his men were within reach of their rest quarters when a gas shell burst amongst them and knocked several of the out. The sergeant, unfortunately, was struck on the neck and badly burned, and he was temporarily blinded. A dressing station was near, and he was quickly conveyed there and was in hospital near the coast the next morning. He appeared to be progressing very satisfactorily, but a change took place suddenly, and he passed away, He was 21years of age. Much sympathy is felt for his family in their sad bereavement. He was a fine type of boy, being ‘a good sport’, and in every sense a gentleman. We had known hi all his life, and watched his career with interest, and naturally feel his loss keenly.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive, co.uk) Nottinghamshire Law Society report: 'Philip Frank Shacklock. Son of Mr GA Shacklock of Mansfield was born on the 5th April 1896, educated at Mansfield Grammar School, articled to his uncle Mr HS Shacklock of Sutton in Ashfield in January 1914. He joined the 2/8th Sherwood Foresters in April 1915 and was promoted Sergeant. He served in the Irish rebellion in 1916 and later in France and Belgium. He died on October 10th, 1917 from wounds sustained in action at Passchendale on September 28th 1917.’